Magazine lead pencil



July 5, 1932. A. WOELM MAGAZINELEAD PENCIL ori inal Fi led Sept. 16, 1922 [rave-1215B .%d

Patented July 5, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT? OFFICE v ALFRED WOELM, OF BERLIN, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR, BY HESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO PENCIL MECHANISM CORPORATION, A. CORPORATION OF YORK MAGAZICNE mun rnncn.

Application filed September 16, 1922, Serial 1T0. 588,688, and in Germany July 21, 1922. Renewed November 25, 1931.

This invention relates to mechanical pennumbers of reference throughout all the figcils, and, in its more particular aspects, to mechanical pencils of the step-by-step and magazine types.

Among the objects of the invention arethe provision in a mechanical pencil of particularly efl'ective and readily operable means for propelling a lead step-by-step from the pencil and the provision of improved means for the delivery of lead to a propelling mechanism.

The invention is exemplified as embodied in a magazine step-by-step pencil which 1s adapted to contain a large number of strips of lead and which is so constructed that these strips are successively brought into the operative position by means of a device which allows the strip in use for the tlme'being to be fed forward by a definite length. With this end in view the holder of the pencil is furnished with one or more suitable constructed magazines, as well as with a gripping device adapted to slide forward and ated from outside.

backwards within the holder and to be oper- This device cooperates with the strip contained in a guide-tube in such a manner, that by its reciprocation the lead is advanced by a corresponding distance.

, 2 through the lower portion of the pencil with the operative parts in a different positl0n,e.

Fig. 5 anelevation of a magazine for the reserve lead strips and Fig.6 is aplan of the magazine shown in Fig. 5.

Similar parts are indicated by the same ures of the drawings.

Referring to the example of the lead pencil illustrated in Figs. 1-6, 1 is a tubular holder terminating at one end in a conical mouth piece 2 and closed at the other end by a cover or cap 3. The strips of lead are contained in a compartment .4 of the holder and form a bundle. The bottom of this compartment is formed by a dish 5 fixed upon the upper end of a central tube 6 serving as a guide for the individual strips of lead. The bottom 5 of the compartment 4 slopes towards a central outlet 7, so that the strips of lead have the tendency to crowd towards thecentre and the strip situated in the middle of the bundle enters into the. outlet 7 (,1

At its lower end the central guide tube 6 is provided withscrew thread 8 by means of which it is screwed into the tapped upper portion of a sleeve 9, which is of conical shape and fits into the conical mouth piece 2 of the holder or handle 1. The sleeve 9 is secured within the mouth piece 2 of the holder by means of a separate mouth piece 10, which is screwed by male screw-thread at its upper end into the female screw-thread 11 in the lower portion of the sleeve 9 and abutswith a shoulder against the mouth piece 2 of the holder forming a continuation of the same. The guide-tube 6 is at its lower end provided with jaws 12', 12", Fig. 3, which close upon the strip of lead contained in the guide tube and hold it resiliently in position.

Upon the central tube 6 a sleeve 14 is adapted to slide, upon which a double-armed lever is fulcrumed at 16 by means of a clip or strap 15. The lower arm 17 of this lever is at its inner face provided with teeth 17T,.while the other arm 18 projects through a slot 19 in the holder and is roughened or grooved on its outer face at 20.

Opposite the teeth on the lever arm 17 the central tube 6 is provided with a lon tudinal slot of suitable length, as clear y visi ble in Figs. 2 and 4, so that the arm 17 can pass through this slot and come in contact with the lead strip contained in the central guide-tube, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. At

the opposite side the central guide-tubeis upon the upper arm 18 of the double-armed lever. The collar 23 is acted upon by a helical spring 26, which at its upper end abuts against the bottom 5 of the compartment 4 and tends to push the collar 23 downwards.

The improved lead following manner:

When writing with the pencil the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 2, in which a strip of lead is held in the operative position pencil operates in the by the jaws 12', 12" and the toothed leverarm 17 and the tongue 21, the spring 26 acting upon the collar 23 and the cone 24 of this collar pressing against the bevelled surface 25 of the lever-arm 18 and thus forcing the teeth 171 against the lead and the lead against the tongue 21.

Should now the lead be advanced by a certain distance, the arm 18 is pressed down into the position shown in Fig. 4. Hereby the collar 23 is forced upwards a little, the bevelled surface 25 of the arm 18 riding upon the cone 24 of the collar 23, against the resistance of the spring 26 and the toothed arm 17 is brought out of engagement with the lead. llhe arm 18 is then by means of the grooved surface 20 moved upwards, the collar 23 and the sleeve 14 together with the toothed lever-arm 17 taking part-in this upward movement. The lever-arm 18 is then released. Hereby the spring 26 first brings the arm 17 into engagement with the lead by the aid of the collar 23, bevelled surface 25 and arm 18 andthen the lever 17, 18 together with the sleeve 14 is returned by the expanding spring 26 into the position shown in Fig. 2 in which the lower edge of the sleeve 14 abuts against the screw-threaded portion of the sleeve 8. In this manner the lead is carried along by a certain distance, that means moved by a certain length beyond the mouthpiece of the holder.

In order to accommodate a larger store of strips of lead in the holder a further magazine 27 or a number of them may be arranged in the upper portion of the compartment 4.

These magazines consist of a cylindricalbody with a bottom 28, which slopes towards a central opening, similar to the bottom 5 of the compartment 4, so that the strips have the tendency toslide towards the middle and the strip situated above this opening enters through it into the lower compartment. In

the example shown the magazine or receptacle 27 is furnished with a rim 29v around its upper edge by means of which it rests upon the upper edge of the holder 1 and is secured in this position shown in Fig. 2 by the cover 3.

It will be understood that the details of construction may be varied within the ambit of the claims without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Reference is made to my co-pending application, Serial No. 180,000, filed March 31, 1927, Which-is a division of the present case.

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure b Letters Patent is 1. In a sad pencil, the combination of a cylindrical holder with conical mouth piece, a compartment for containing strips of lead in said holder, a guide-tube for leading said lead strips to said mouth piece, a gripping device reciprocal in said holder and adapted to grip and feed forward a lead when moved downward, and to release its rip thereon when moved upward, and a spring normally foacing said device to grip a lead in said guide tu e.

2. In a magazine encil, the combination ofa cylindrical hol er with conical mouth piece, a compartment in said holder for containing strips of lead, a guide tube for leading said lead strips to said mouth piece, a gripping device reciprocable in said holder and adapted to grip and feed forward a lead when moved downward, and to release its grip thereon when moved upward, and a spring normally causing said device to hold a lead in said guide tube.

3. In a magazine pencil, the combination of a cylindrical holder with conical mouth piece, a compartment in said holder for containing strips of lead, a guide tube for leading saidstrips to said mouth piece, a gripping lead strip and the other to project from the holder through a slot.

5. In a lead pencil, thecombination of a cylindrical holder with conical mouth piece, a compartment for containing strips of lead in said holder, a guide-tube for leading said lead strips to said mouth piece, a slideable sleeve upon said guide-tube, a double-armed lever fulcrumed upon said sleeve one arm of which is adapted to resiliently en age the lead strip and the other to project rom the holder throu' h a slot, a slideable collar upon said guide-tu e, a helicalspring acting upon said collar, said collar and spring being adapted to hold said sleeve and said lead gripping device in the position required for writing with said pencil. j

6. In a lead pencil, the combination of a cylindrical holder with conical mouth piece, a compartment for containing strips of lead in said holder, a dish in said compartment which slopes towards a central opening, a guide-tube for leading said lead strips from said central opening to said mouthpiece, a slideable sleeve upon said guide-tube, a double-armed lever fulcrumed upon said sleeve one arm of which is adapted to resiliently engage the lead strip in the guide-tube and the other to projectfrom the holder through a slot, a slideable collar upon said guide-tube, a helical spring acting upon said collar, said collar and spring being adapted to hold said sleeve and said lead gripping device in the position required for writing with said pencil.

7. In a lead pencil, the combination of a cylindrical holder with conical moutl1-piece, a magazine for containing strips of lead, said magazine consisting of a cylinder inserted into the holder, a bottom in said cylinder which slopes towards a central opening,

a compartment for containing strips of lead in said holder below said magazine, a bot.- tom in said compartment which slopes towards a central opening, a guide-tube for "leading said lead strips from said central opening to said mouth-piece, a slideable sleeve uponsaid guide-tube, a double-armed lever fulcrumed upon said sleeve, one arm of which is adapted to resiliently engage the lead strip in the guide-tube and the other to project 7 from the holder through a slot, a slideable collar upon said guide-tube, a spring acting upon said collar, said collar and spring being adapted to locksaid sleeve and said lead gripping device in the position required for writing with said pencil.

8. In a'magazine lead pencil, the combination ofzatubular casing, the lower end thereof tapered to a discharge opening; a lead' magazine in the upper portion of said casing, the bottom of said magazine opening into a guiding passageway leading therefrom to said discharge opening and into which leads from said magazine may drop one at a time; yielding means for preventing the free passage of a lead through said passageway; lead gripping and feeding mechanism recip cable in said casing intermediate said magazine and said discharge opening, and adapted to grip and force downward a lead lying in said passageway when said mechanism. is

forced downward; a spring adapted to force said mechanism downward and normally cause it to grip the lead in said passageway; and means operable from outside said casing whereby said mechanism may be forced upward in opposition to said spring so that when released it will re-grip the lead at a higher point thereon.

9. A step-by-step pencil, comprising a casing, and lead-propelling mechanism including a rockingly mounted lead-gripping means movable longitudinally of the casing.

' 10. A step-by-step pencil, comprising a casing, and longitudinally movable lead-propelling means including a rockingly mounted lead-gripping element.

11. A step-by-step pencil, comprising a casing, and a rockingly mounted lead-gripping and -feeding jaw movable longitudinally of r the casing, and means for operating said jaw.

12. A step-by-step pencil, comprising a casing, a rockingly mounted leadrgripping and -feeding jaw movable longitudinally of the casing, and means for imparting a lead-propelling action to-said jaw.

13. A step-by-step pencil, comprising :1- cas- I ing, a rockingly mounted lead-gripper IIIOV'. able longitudinally of the casing, and means including a spring for swinging said gripper on its pivot into lead-gripping position and for moving the gripper and the lead forwardly within the casing.

14. A step-by-step pencil, comprising a casing, alongitudinally movable member, a leadgripping element rockingly mounted on said longitudinally movable member, and means for imparting lead-propelling actionto said lead-gripping element.

15. A step-by-step pencil, comprising a casing, a longitudinally movable member, a leadgripping element rockingly mounted on said longitudinally movable member, and means for imparting lead-propelling action to said lead-gripping element, saidmeans acting normally to swing said gripping element on its pivot into lead-gripping position.

16. A step-by-step pencil, comprising a casing, a rockingly mounted longitudinally movable lead-gripping element, exteriorly accessg ible actuating means carried by said element, said gripping element being movable in one direction in response to the actuation of said exteri'orly accessible means,- and means tending to return said gripping elementto its original position after the actuation of said exteriorly accessible means,

17. A step-by-step pencil, comprising a casing, a lead guide-tube secured to said casing, a sleeve movable longitudinally upon said guide-tube, a lead-gripping j aw pivotally supig ported by said sleeve, said guide tube being provided with a slot for the reception of said jaw, and means for swinging said jaw upon its pivot and for imparting longitudinal movement thereto'to propel a lead step-bystep through the pencil. r

18. A step-by-step pencil, comprising a casing, a lead guide-tube secured to said casing,

a sleeve movable longitudinally upon said guide-tube, a lead-gripping jaw pivotally supported by said sleeve, said-guide tube being provided with a slot for the reception of said jaw, said jaw being formed with an arm protruding from said casing whereby the same may be swung on its pivot and moved upwardly, and means including a springpressed member for swinging said jaw on its '5 pivot into gripping position and for moving said jaw downwardly.

19. In a step-by-step pencil, a longitudinally movable lead-gripping and -feeding element, and. mechanism for operating said lead- 19 gripping and feeding elemcnt, said mechanism including a spring resisting upward movement of said element.

20. In a step-by-step-pencil, a longitudinally movable lead-gripping and -feeding 'jaw, operating mechanism for said jaw, said ther lead magazine beneath the aforesaid magazine, and lead-propelling means beneath said further magazine, and means to permit the passage of leads from the first-mentioned magazine to the second-mentioned magazine and from the second-mentioned magazine to the lead-propelling means,

22. A magazine pencil, comprising a casing, an axially perforated partition adapted to form with said casing a lead magazine from which leads may be fed successively downwardly, and an additional axially perforated partition serving to form the top of said leadmagazine and to form the bottom of a supplemental lead magazine above the first-mentioned magazine.

23. In a magazine lead pencil including a casing, the combination of means providing a magazine chamber in the upper portion of the pencil, means for guiding a lead fromsaid chamber to the lower-end of the PenciI c ntinuously actingmeans for preventing free passage of leads from said magazine out of the lower end of, the pencil, longitudinally movable leadropelling mechanism including a lead-grip pihg jaw and a camming member positioned beneath said magazine, ,a

spring acting on saidv camming member to force said mechanism in one direction, and means operable from the outside of the casing for moving said mechanism in opposition to said. spring. v

24. In a magazine lead pencil including a casing, the combination of means providing a magazine chamber in the upper portion of the pencil, means for guiding a lead from. said chamber to the lower end of the pen: cil, longitudinally movable lead-propelling mechanism including a lead-gripping jaw and a cammingmember positioned beneath said magazine, a spring acting on saidcam- I ming member to force said mechanism in one direction, and means operable from the out.-

including a longitudinally movable gripperoperating element slidable on said guidetube, a spring tending to oppose the movement of said gripper-operatin' element in one direction, and means inclu ing an exteriorly accessible element for moving said operatin element in opposition to saidspring. 27. n a magazine lead pencil including a casing, a lead guide-tube, rockingly mounted and longitudinally movable lead-gripping means, and operating mech-anismincluding a longitudinally movable ripper-operating element slidable on said guide-tube, a spring tending to oppose the movement of said gripper-operating element in one direction, and means including an exteriorly accessible element for moving said operating element in opposition to said spring.- 28. In a magazine pencil including a cas- "ing, the combination of means providing a lead magazine in the upper end of the pencil, a slottedlead guide-tube for conducting leads downwardly from said magazine, releasable lead-gripping means extending through the slotted portion of said guide-tube, longitudifor causing the same to move said gripperinto gripping engagement with a lead, and means including an exteriorly accessible element for moving said longitudinally movable element in opposition to said spring to permit the release of said gripping means.

29'. In amagazine pencil including a casing, the combination of means including a lead magazine in the upper end of the pencil, a slotted lead guide-tube for conducting leads downwardly from said magazine,-lead propelling means includinglong itudinally movable releasable lead-gri-pping means extending through the slotted portions of said guide tube, and operating mechanism including a spring tending to oppose movement of said gripping means in one direction, and means including an exteriorly accessible element for moving said gripping means in opposition'to said spring.

'- 30. In a magazine pencil including a casagainst said longitudinally movable element and a spring tending to hold said camming.

element in camming position, and means including anlexteriorly accessible element for movingfsaid camming element in opposition to said spring.

31. In a magazine pencil including a casing, the combination of means including a lead magazine in the upper end of the pencil,

a slotted lead uide-tube for conducting leads downwardly rom said magazine, and leadpropelling means including a longitudinally A movable lead-gripping element adapted to be swung into and out of engagement with a lead in said guide-tube and operating mechanism including a spring tending to oppose movement of said gripping means in one direction, and means including an exteriorly accessible element for moving said gripping means in opposition to said spring.

32. In a magazine lead pencil including acasing, the combination of means providing a magazine chamber in the upperportion of the pencil, means for guidin alead from said chamber to the lower emf of the pencil, continuously acting means for preventing free passage of leads from said magazine out of the lower end of the pencil, longitudinally movable lead-propelling mechanism, said mechanism including a releasable lead-gripping element positioned beneath said magazine, a spring adapted to force said mechanism in one direction, and means operable from outslde 'the casing for moving said,

mechanism in opposition to said spring said guiding means including a guide-tube formed with a slotted portion through whichsai'd gripping element projects.

33. In a magazine pencil including a casing, a pair of longitudinally movable leadpropelling elements, at least one of said elements being rockingly mounted, and operating mechanism for said lead-propelling elements. I v

34. Ina magazine pencil including a casing, lead-propelling means comprising a plurality of longitudinally. movable elements adapted to grip a lead therebetween, certain of said gripping elements being rockingly mounted, and means to operate said longitudinally movable elements to propel a lead through the pencil.

35. In a magazine pencil includlng a casing, the combination of lead-propelling means including a lon 'tudinally movable" sleeve, a tongue carried y said sleeve, and a rockingly mounted gripper carried by said the action of said spring.

sleeve and adapted to clamp a lead against said tongue, means to reciprocate said sleeve, and means to rock said jaw.

36. In a magazine lead pencil including a casing, the combination of releasable leadgripping means, a cammin g element adapted to bemoved to a position wherein it holds the lead-gripping means in engagement with the lead, a spring bearing directly upon said camming element and tending to move said camming element to such position, and means for moving said camming element in opposition to said spring to permit a release of said grippers. 1

.37. In a magazine pencil includinga casing, thecombination of means including a lead magazine in the upper endof the pencil, a slotted lead guide-tube for conducting leads downwardly from said magazine, lead-' lead-gripping means in engagement with the lead, a spring tending to move said camming element to such position, and means for moving said camming element in opposition to said spring to permit a release of said grippers.

38. A magazine pencil, comprising a casing, a perforated partition across said casing, lead-gripping means beneath said partition, means for operating said lead-gripping means, and a lead container having a perforated bottom wall and adapted to be inserted in the upper part of the space above said partition to provide a supplemental lead magazine in the upper end of the pencil.

39. A magazine pencil, comprising a casing, a plurality of magazine chambers disposed one above the other in the upper part of the pencil, and means to conduct a lead directly from the upper of said ma 'azine chambers to the lower end of the pencil by a. longitudinal movement of the lead.

40. In a magazine pencil including a'casing, lead-propelling mechanism in the lower end of the casing, and a lead magazine removably mounted in theupper end of the easing and having its bottom wall perforated to permit leads to befed one at a time to said propelling mechanism.

41. In a step-by-step pencil including a casing, lead-grippingmeans longitudinally movable within said casing, a spring-pressed gripper-operating element having a tapered exterior wall adapted toact on said gripping.

means under the influence of its spring to operate the gripping means, and-'means'to move the gripper-operating element against 42. In a step-by-step pencil including a casin lead-gripping means longitudinally mova le 'withm said casing, a spring-pressed iao gripper-operating element having a tapered; exterior wall adapted to act on said gripping means under the influence of its spring to close the gripping means, and means to move the gripper-operating element against the action of said spring.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ALFRED WOELM; 

